Redesigning 55 gallon tank...

[Talvari]

So after having my tank set up for more than a year, I have finally decided I really don't like how it was put together. There is no flow, and it looks sloppy.

I currently have 5 tiger barbs, 1 gourami, an african brown knife, and a hi fin pleco. Oh, and some dalmatian molly fry in a breeder net, tucked safely out of harms way.

This is how the tank currently looks:

This is the sketch I did to plan out how I want to change it...

I want to change to black sand. Towards the back is all going to be the darker green plastic plants, towards the front corners I want to do brighter colored plants (yellows and brighter greens). The two plants in front of the log, and the two bright green short ones I want to do live plants (mondo grass? wisteria? java fern?)

What do you guys thing?

 

[Morgie]

I'm also planning on switching my 55 over to black sand!
I can't see your sketch, btw. I don't know if it's my computer or not..
Mondo grass isn't a fully aquatic plant and will rot quickly in the water.
I would definitely recommend wisteria and java ferns. They're very hardy and grow well in almost all lighting. Though I do like the look of wisteria grown in high light more.
What kind of lighting do you have?
I would probably do all live plants if this was my tank, but that's just my personal preference.

 

[Talvari]

I figured out why the picture wasnt working.... broken link, duh.

Anyways... It was kind of a crappy sketch anyways. Just something quick I did... But still... I want to know what everyone thinks. Itd be the first time i actually put any thought into a large tank... My husband initally set this one up.

 

[kdpuffer]

Did you consider doing all live plants, if you get low light plants that don't require CO2 it's really simple and adds to your filtration, plants consume the nitrates.